So this week I was determined to complete all the unlocks on my physical Smash 64 cartridge. On Nights One and Two I returned to 1P mode and finished beating it with the remaining original eight characters. But I still hadn’t unlocked Mushroom Kingdom.
So I decided to play Time VS. matches with Items on against CPU Levels 1-9. I had a feeling I hadn’t played on every stage in VS mode yet. So I was just going to go through the stage list one stage at a time, skipping Dreamland, because of course, I’ve played there. After playing Planet Zebes, Mushroom Kingdom unlocked. Obviously, that was the level I had yet to play.
I decided to finish my exercise anyway of playing on every stage but Dreamland. Per usual I was playing as Ness and I was able to defeat all the CPUs, except for the Level 9 one.
I’m pretty decent in an Items off Smash match in Super Smash Bros., but I’m going to need to re-learn all the advanced techniques on the actual N64 controller. Which may be a bit difficult because of how weird that controller is, and all my controllers are old obviously. Though I did order some more junk ones, just to replace the sticks on them. Before Super Smash Con I definitely need to get comfortable with “my” controller.
After all that I still hadn’t unlocked Item Switch. Have to go back and unlock that in the future.
I skipped Night Four. On Nights Five and Six I continued World of Light in Ultimate. Last week, I caved and turned Spirits on when I couldn’t advance. By Night Six I was just turning on Spirits when the opponent was ranked three stars or more. Two stars or less I was still approaching without spirits on, but even on some one stars I couldn’t beat them without the spirit buffs.
Last week I mentioned how block and punish was becoming necessary to advance. On the challenges this week I was really struggling with, I think it was because I need to get better at my short hop aerial attacks. Most of the time I got stuck was when the event was multiple characters against you. They all attack you, so you have to react very quickly. Blocking doesn’t help much because another opponent will just grab you. I ended up beating most of them with Kirby and spirits on, but if I really want to get better I have to improve as short hops, fast falls, and attacks from those techniques.
Then on Night Six, I spent about half an hour just practice edge-guarding with Ness in Ultimate‘s Training Mode. Watching the Japanese players in tournaments, they will pursue their opponents so far off-ledge to get a kill. Ness has a bad recovery, but really good edge-guarding and I need to be more aggressive with it if I’m going to improve.
On Night Seven I wasn’t able to play. Next week, I’m planning on continuing in World of Light, which I hope will improve my advanced techniques.